A serious traffic accident, a fire in the flat, your child has to go to hospital with appendicitis - many reasons can lead to you not being able to take the holiday you have long planned or having to leave early.

This is where travel cancellation insurance protects you: it reimburses the cancellation fees charged by your tour operator if you have to cancel a trip you have already booked. In addition, you can also protect yourself financially in the event that you have to leave your holiday prematurely and cannot make use of services you have already paid for: for example, if a close relative falls seriously ill or even dies.

Also if unforeseeable complications occur during a pregnancy, in case of intolerance after a vaccination or if you cannot leave your home alone or have to return there quickly due to burglary, fire, severe storm damage or other elementary events.

Sometimes it already happens on the day of arrival: your suitcase is stolen. The tour operator is liable - if at all - only up to a limited amount. What goes beyond that can be covered by luggage insurance. It can be taken out as a weekly, monthly or annual policy.

The luggage insurance protects you worldwide against financial damage caused by loss, destruction or damage to the property you are carrying.

The current value or repair costs are reimbursed
The luggage insurance covers all items of personal travel necessities and items worn on the body or in clothing, checked-in luggage or hand luggage, souvenirs and gifts, as well as sports equipment including accessories and protective clothing.

As a rule, the insurance covers the current value of the items carried - i.e. the replacement value minus an appropriate deduction for wear and tear, age and use. In the case of damaged items, the insurer covers repair costs up to the current value.

When travelling beyond Germany's borders, you are well protected with private travel health insurance. The statutory health insurance funds only reimburse treatment costs if you are travelling in a country that belongs to the EU or has concluded a social security agreement with Germany.

And even then, medical costs are only reimbursed up to the usual amount in Germany. Beyond European borders, you are usually a private patient and have to pay very high medical or hospital costs yourself. In the USA, for example, these costs can easily exceed an annual income. Return transport home is also not covered by statutory health insurers.

Transport home is also covered
The travel health insurance pays for medical treatment in case of acute illnesses and accidents, it reimburses the costs for in-patient treatment, pain-relieving dental treatment and for medicines, dressings and remedies.

The insurance also covers medically necessary repatriation to Germany, as well as repatriation costs in the event of the death of an insured person or funeral costs incurred abroad.

You can take out travel health insurance abroad as a limited policy for a certain number of days of travel or as an annual policy for any number of trips within a year.

On the road with a rental car
If you want to explore your holiday destination on your own, you can rent a car. Especially in Southern Europe, the insurance sums for rented vehicles are often lower than in Germany.

This can be expensive in the event of an accident: If you cause an accident as the driver of a rental car and the claims of the injured party exceed this minimum sum, you have to pay the difference out of your own pocket.

Inexpensive protection with the "Mallorca Policy
You are on the safe side if you have already taken out a rental car liability insurance policy at home - also known as a "Mallorca policy". You can get it for just a few euros from your local car insurer.

The basic version is valid for other European countries and can be taken out either for a few weeks or for several months. Depending on the insurer, the Mallorca policy may already be included in your existing motor vehicle insurance - just ask or look in the contract.

If you need the additional insurance worldwide, you can choose a so-called Traveller contract.

Tip: In the event of an accident, notify the police immediately and inform the vehicle rental company. And if you do not have your injuries certified by a doctor, you run the risk that they will not be recognised by the liability of the person who caused the accident.

Maximum cover
Even if you are travelling abroad with your own car, you need the right insurance cover. For motor vehicle liability insurance, it is best to arrange the maximum possible cover. 

As a supplement, it is advisable to take out a comprehensive policy. Partial cover insurance compensates for damage caused by theft, fire, storms, collisions with game and glass breakage. Fully comprehensive insurance also pays for your own accident damage. In addition, comprehensive insurance pays if you are injured in a car accident abroad and the damage is not properly settled by the party responsible.

Whenever you drive abroad, you should always have your green insurance card with you as proof of insurance and a "European accident report", which provides help in filling it out in a total of ten languages.

Inexpensive and helpful: the car insurance policy
A car insurance policy is also useful and inexpensive. In the event of an accident or breakdown, it covers, within certain limits, the costs of recovery, towing and storage of the vehicle, shipping of spare parts, return transport if the driver is ill, necessary overnight accommodation and, if necessary, a rental car.

You can obtain car insurance policies from all German motor insurers and from the automobile clubs.